KVPT’s Patan Darbar Earthquake Response Campaign - Work to Date - September 2016

The aedicules
The eight aedicules, niches with a stepped pediment
housing the eight guardians of the universe (aṣṭadikpāla),
are well preserved.
The doorways
The southern and eastern doorways required extensive
repairs while the northern and western doorways exhibit
only minor damage. The guiding rule was to retain as
much of the original fabric as possible. The southern
door required much care as the lintel was broken, with
damage beyond repair. The carved surfaces above the
door opening and on the extended lintel ends were removed
from the old lintel to a depth of some five cm and
joined to the new lintel using bamboo pegs. At all four
doors, the lower parts of the Eight Planets (aṣṭagraha) on
the lintel ends have broken away. Only one of these was
found in the debris. The others will have to be replaced
and recarved. Structural damages required replacements
including the introduction of galvanized nuts and bolts:
at the eastern doorway eight, and at the southern doorway
four.
As of mid-September, the southern and eastern doorways
are almost completed. The repair of the northern
and western doorways is in progress. All doorways will
be completed by December 2016.
The corner pillars of the sanctum
The four corner pillars had their bottom tenons preserved
while the breakaway of the tenon at the top caused
loss of fabric on all four pillars. Replacement work was
completed in April 2016.
The inner frame of the doorways
Work on the four inner frames will start in November
2016.
The inner threshold of the four doorways
The southern and western thresholds are broken; the remaining
two need minor repairs. This damage has not
yet been assessed in cooperation with stone masons. Replacements
will be used until March 2017.
Of the 20 base stones of the pillars of the ambulatory,
featuring a lion bust, two will have to be replaced and
seven are in need of repair. Of the 20 carved stones of
the intercolumniations, six will have to be replaced, and
the remaining ones repaired. The work will be complete
in March 2016.
Summary
Most of the woodwork will be completed in November
2016, and the stone work will be complete in March.
Based on these assumptions, the ground floor will be in
place in early May 2017, provided the foundation of reinforced
concrete is installed in March 2017.
First Level
Twelve windows need minor repairs. One of 28 struts
is broken but can be repaired. The entire level will be in
place by the end of 2017.
Second level
Four windows, eight aedicules (niches) and 20 struts
need minor repairs.
Third Level
Four windows, eight miniature aedicules and 12 struts
need minor repair.
The door leaves
No trace of the latticed door leaves survives. Replacements
will be made in November 2016.
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